A population-based study of first and second-line drug-resistant tuberculosis in a high-burden area of the Mexico/United States border.

The resistance of 139 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from the city of Monterrey, Northeast Mexico, to first and second-line anti-TB drugs was analysed. A total of 73 isolates were susceptible and 66 were resistant to anti-TB drugs. Monoresistance to streptomycin, isoniazid (INH) and ethambutol was observed in 29 cases.

Expression of CDllc in blood monocytes as biomarker for favorable response to antituberculosis treatment.

CD11c is involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis phagocytosis by human macrophages. CD11c has not been evaluated during antituberculosis (anti-TB) treatment. CD11c expression was evaluated on monocytes from peripheral blood leukocytes of pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and healthy controls by flow cytometry, whereas CD11c/Arg47Trp polymorphism was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

[Association of pulmonar tuberculosis with HLA system antigens in Northeastern Mexico].

Background: Genetic susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTb) has been associated with the HLA (Antigens of the Human Leukocytes) system of the MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex), mainly with HLA-DR and-DQ antigens. Based on this assumption we carried out a case control study to determine the association of PTb with the HLA-DR and-DQ antigens among a sample of patients attending a medical unit belonging to the Mexican Social Security System (IMSS).

Methods: HLA system phenotypes from cases (n=50) and controls (n=417), were defined serologically using a complement dependent microlymphocytotoxic assay.

CD14 C(-159)T polymorphism is a risk factor for development of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Neither the expression of CD14 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on monocytes' surface nor the mutations CD14 -159TT and TLR4 Asp299Gly have yet been evaluated as risk factors for development of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the Mexican population.

Methods: Level of membrane CD14 (mCD14) and membrane TLR4 (mTLR4) were determined by flow cytometry, in 104 patients with pulmonary TB (before and after treatment), 67 household contacts, and 114 healthy control subjects. Genotype/allele frequencies in CD14 -159 and TLR4 Asp299Gly were obtained by polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment length polymorphism.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis produces pili during human infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for nearly 3 million human deaths worldwide every year. Understanding the mechanisms and bacterial factors responsible for the ability of M. tuberculosis to cause disease in humans is critical for the development of improved treatment strategies.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis upregulates coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 while HIV modulates CD14 favoring concurrent infection.

Tuberculosis is the most frequent coinfection in humans infected with HIV-1, but little is known about mechanisms that favors coinfection. The aim of this work is to understand tuberculosis and HIV infections. We determined the pattern of expression of CD11c, CD14, CD40, CCR5, and CXCR4 and quantified IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and RANTES in tuberculosis patients and HIV patients.